This may not be the best forum, but I thought the post would get more looks here:

Does anyone have any experience repairing deep scratches on the buff horn end cap? Can it be done? What is the best method?

Thank you

Many years ago a bloke who made sheperds crooks from rams horns told me to get a smooth finish on horns he used Brasso. I tried it on Buff horn it did a good job, the horn came up like new.
I hope this is of some help to you.

to get the color back, i like shoe polish, chic likes leather stain...

brasso has amonia in it, might denature the horn

Bad scratch .. maybe a shellac stick

Rich

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
to get the color back, i like shoe polish, chic likes leather stain...

brasso has amonia in it, might denature the horn

jeffeosso
I have some difficulty in understanding your use of denature in this context, please expand your comment. I thank you in advance.

sure,.. the ammonia will case the horn to dry and or split... it's a strong chemical, and not overly friendly to organics

I've just remembered the other thing I've used to clean up buff horn, it was a fine pumice/oil mix stock finish burnishing cream, that worked well.
Sadly I'm not able to talk to the old stick maker who first told me about Brasso he's herding sheep in the happy valley now. However I can say he made many hundreds of horned sticks and as far as I know he had no problems. The stick he gave to my good wife lasted for years. None the less I take note of jeff's caveat.

in a pinch, there's several 'under the counter" agents that work the same, and aren't as tought.. ... a TOTALY different problem, but like solution, the navy gave my father in law "whiting" for his whites in wwII... which i think is triple eythle death.... and today we would use oxyclean

jeffe

A few times I have used accruglas (with some color mixed in)to patch cracks and bad places in horn then just used sandpaper from 320 to 1000grit then just rubbed or polished with semi-chrome to a luster.

Depending on how deep, but I would just lightly as possible wet sand the whole forend with 320, 400 and 600, in light circles, then using rotten stone and Pilkingtons Red Oil to finish it. I would clean it with Lighter fluid or alcohol as horn has a certain amount of oil in it as does Ebony and that does not link well with any finish that I know of.. then apply the red oil polish, or any finish...A wonderful fineish that is easy to use today is Brownells GunsaveR.........

Thank you all for the tips. This particular scratch may be too deep to really get out, may need to replace the tip. I'll post about progress, amybe it will help somebody else out.

There are those among us who believe that if it's your rifle, and the scratch occurred in the field, it has become part of the rifle's character and deserves to be left where it is. $0.02

I am in the same camp with nordrseta. Unless the gun is for sale it is just a part of the gun's character. It has now been hunted with. enjoy the reminder of where you were and the hunt it was, where you got the scratch on the gun.

I agree, show it around and everyone will want a scratch on theirs too.

Re Brasso, the "old bloke" knew nothing ever really dries out in New Zealand.

All my rifles are worn to the bone, some of my stocks look like drift wood and my metal has been accused of being stainless, but its just a lot of blue wear..they shoot good, and they are mostly custom rifles, but every nick is memory and I wouldn't touch them with a reblue or refinish...but I don't have a problem with those who think otherwise, nice pretty guns are a thing of beauty..